Pete C wrote:
Hi,

Soot buildup could be much more of a problem with unlined chimneys.

So for professional installers, lined insulated chimneys have much
more butt covering potential in case the chimney gets neglected.

Once a chimney fire gets going I wonder if it's easier to stop with a
stove rather than an open fire.

Slightly.

The trick is to put the fire out quickly with water, and then block
the chimney.

Ive used a bucket of water for the first, and a couple of newspapers
over an open fire face for the second. This is the 'approved' method.
With a stove although its slightly harder to put the fire out, its a
damn sight easier to starve the airflow. Shut all dampers and doors.



Maybe worth getting the opinion of an experienced chimney sweep, who
may favour something that needs more sweeping, but could have some
good advice.

Regularly used flues with wood need sweeping annualy. maybe more with
unlined ones.

The one that I set alight three times in a row, was an open wood and
coal burner that had been swept about 18 months previously, but was the
second source of heat in the house apart from a coal aga.


The other one was similar, but hadn't been swept for several years


cheers,
Pete.